Obituaries
James Roger Moilanen
Dec 8, 2023
James Roger Moilanen, born in L’Anse MI on 10/24/1944, died in San Diego on 12/8/2023 at the age of 79. Raised in Herman, he joined the Navy and served in Vietnam, maintaining the machines that encoded naval transmissions. He married Linda Peyton, had two kids, Erika and Matt, worked as an electrician and handyman, and had friends all over San...
Corbin Yale Laux
Nov 22, 2023
Corbin "Corby" Yale Laux, age 78 of Alston, MI passed away on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. He was born February 4, 1945 in Hancock, MI son of James and Edna (Sarazan) Laux. He served in the U.S. Army as a Top Gunner on a M60 tank, stationed in Germany, during the Vietnam Era. On February...
Katherine Jane (Stroube) Kunick
Nov 18, 2023
Katherine Jane Kunick, age 77 of Baraga, Michigan passed away on Saturday, November 18th, 2023 at U P Health System, Marquette, Michigan. She was born on a farm in Portland, Indiana, daughter of Dr. John A Stroube and Betty (Beeler) Stroube on January 8, 1946. They moved to L'Anse, Michigan in 1953. Kathe attended L'Anse schools from 1st grade...
Daniel John Maki
Nov 10, 2023
Daniel John Maki, age 68 of Pelkie, MI passed away on Friday, November 10th, 2023 at Bayside Village in L'anse, MI. He was born June 23, 1955 in L'Anse, son of Arne and Margaret (Seelye) Maki. Dan graduated from Great Lakes Adventist Academy in Cedar Lake, MI. He married Denise LaFernier on September 17, 1977 in Keweenaw Bay, MI....
James Edward Bergerson
Nov 4, 2023
James E. Bergerson, age 82 of L'Anse, MI passed on to join his eternal family on Saturday, November 4, 2023 while at his home surrounded by love, peace and family. Jim was born on September 13, 1941 in L'Anse, MI. He grew up in Baraga, MI with his mother, Helen Elizabeth Bergerson and father, Cyril Wallace Bergerson and his...
Bernice E. (Tollefson) Nord
Oct 23, 2023
Bernice E. Nord, age 95 of Palm Harbor, FL passes away on Monday, October 23, 2023 at her home with her sister by her side. She was born June 19, 1928 in L'Anse, MI daughter of Leo and Tyyne (Rivers) Tollefson. Bernice graduated from L'anse High School in 1946. She married Leland Nord on July 22, 1950 in L'Anse....
Curtis Gale Royal
Oct 18, 2023
Curtis Gale Royal, age 80 of Skanee, MI passed away on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan. He was born August 19, 1943 in New Madrid County, Missouri, son of Kern and Hazel (Stewart) Royal. Curt grew up traveling around Missouri and Illinois with his family doing labor work with his father. He met...
Patricia Ann (Anderson) Champine
Oct 18, 2023
Patricia Ann Champine, age 96 of Sidnaw, MI passed away on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at U.P. Health System Marquette, MI. She was born May 18, 1927 in Flint, MI daughter to Carl and Della (Dunham) Anderson. Patricia graduated in 1945 from Trout Creek High School. She married Harold Champine in 1947 in Baraga County and they resided in Sidnaw,...
Philip Medlin
Oct 12, 2023
Philip Medlin, age 71, of L'Anse, Michigan passed away on Thursday, October 12th, 2023 at Bayside Village in L'Anse, MI. He was born November 4, 1951 in Rocky Mount, NC son of Auburn and Lucille (Driver) Medlin. Philip grew up and attended school in Rocky Mount. He married Trudy House on November 24, 1984 in Rocky Mount. Philip was...
Larry Dean Seratti
Oct 6, 2023
Larry Dean Seratti, age 76, local businessman, passed away quietly October 6, 2023, at his home in Norway, MI. He was born April 28, 1947, in Baraga, MI son of Joseph "Jocko" and Eileen (Ross) Seratti. Larry graduated from Baraga High School in 1965 and attended Suomi College in Hancock. He was a member of the Baraga National Guard....
Leo Sam Durant
Sep 27, 2023
Leo Sam Durant Jr (Manny) ManidoMukwa (Spirit Bear), age 84 passed away September 27 at the home of his daughter, Amanda, in Milwaukee, WI after a courageous battle with cancer. Leo was born in Baraga Mi on March 16, 1939 to Leo Sam Durant Sr and Bertha Nedeau. He attended Baraga Area Schools later to receive a GED certificate....
Debra Lynn Heikkila
Sep 19, 2023
Debra (Debbie) Lynn Heikkila, age 61, of Baraga, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at her home. She was born March 21, 1962, in Annapolis, Maryland, the daughter of Darwin and Donna (Paul) Heikkila. Debbie grew up in Baraga and lived in Orlando, Florida, for many years, where she worked for the U.S. Postal Service and...
Hugo Manuel Gordillo Gomez
Sep 14, 2023
Hugo Manuel Gordillo Gomez February 16, 1960 - September 14, 2023 Writer, journalist, human rights activist. Lover, husband, father, friend. Born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Hugo Gordillo was raised by his grandmother, Doña Elvira Alvarado Velasquez, in the province of Retalhuleu. From 1980-2012, he worked as a journalist, focusing on human rights and social inequality, and received three UNICEF...
Robert Frances Vizina
Sep 14, 2023
Robert Frances Vizina, age 65 of L'Anse, MI passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 14th, 2023 at his home. He was born August 21, 1958 in L'Anse, MI son of Raymond and Margaret (Selden) Vizina. Robert graduated from L'Anse High School in 1978. He married the former Sheri Rinkinen on August 5, 2016 in L'Anse. Robert worked at Commercial National...
Randall Wayne Lepola
Sep 13, 2023
Randall Wayne Lepola, age 64 of Covington, Michigan passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 at his home. He was born August 7th, 1959 in Detroit, MI son of Melvin and Jeanette (Norback) Lepola. Randall graduated from Wayne Memorial High School in 1977. He served in the U. S. Marines for four years. Randall worked for various businesses as...
Layla Marykay Klug
Sep 9, 2023
Layla Marykay Klug of L'Anse, MI, daughter of Joshua Klug Jr. and Cheyenne LeMieux was born into the arms of God on September 9, 2023. It took Cheyenne and Josh 6 years to conceive Layla. She was heaven sent. From the moment Josh and Cheyenne had found out they were having a baby they were filled with excitement and...
Ellen Marie Stewart
Aug 24, 2023
Ellen Marie Stewart, a loving and creative soul, passed away unexpectedly from heart disease on August 24, 2023, in Berkley, Michigan. Born on March 10, 1948, in Hancock, Michigan, Ellen's life was marked by her friendly nature and a deep love for her family, friends, and pets. Ellen was a dedicated professional, working as an appraiser at Alexander Hamilton Insurance...
Catherine Marie (Kemppainen) Shepherd
Aug 20, 2023
Catherine Marie Shepherd, age 61 of Baraga, MI passed away on Sunday, August 20th, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St Mary's Campus, in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born October 13, 1961 in Chicago, IL daughter of Raymond and Patricia (Emery) Kemppainen. Catherine graduated from Kelvyn Park High School in 1979. She married Ambrose Shepherd on August 1, 1981 in Cameron,...
Gerald Earl Maki
Aug 12, 2023
Gerald Earl Maki, age 86 of Elo, Michigan passed away on Saturday, August 12th, 2023 at Bayside Village in L'Anse, MI. He was born June 17, 1937 in Elo, MI son of Leonard and Sophie (Autio) Maki. He attended the John A. Doelle School and graduated in 1955. He was in the U. S. Army stationed in Germany until...
Darlene Marie (Witz) Elmblad
Aug 11, 2023
Darlene Marie Elmblad, age 76 of Skanee, MI passed away on Friday, August 11th, 2023 at Bayside Village in L'Anse, MI surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's. She was born October 27, 1946 in Houghton, MI daughter to Vivan and Joyce (Kunick) Witz. Darlene graduated from L'Anse High School in 1964. She married the love...

